I'm relatively new to the sartorial life having gradually improved my wardrobe over the last couple of years. I've learnt a lot reading blogs. Last week I decided to take a corduroy jacket I had bought second hand into a tailor to have the plastic buttons (a couple were missing) replaced with a full set of horn ones. Having researched the cost of a set of horn blazer buttons, I was pleasantly surprised at what I thought was a very reasonable fee.

Today I collected the jacket and whilst pleased with the work done, my wife noticed the strong smell of it when we got home and asked me whether the jacket had smelled of smoke before I took it to the tailor? It never had, we don't smoke and I'd not worn it out anywhere.

It is a small tailor's shop. As far as I know he works alone and I can only assume that he smokes while he works. This has been my first experience with a tailor and I'm not sure how to proceed?

Thanks for all the replies. I've not seen any in my email. How do you subscribe to a thread?

As non-smokers we would have noticed for sure if the jacket had smelled before. It did not. It has hung in his shop for a full week. Today has been a very cold breezy day and the jacket has been aired most of the day. This has made a vast improvement. I'll try steaming too and then I think it will be fine.

This has made me reconsider taking an off the rack suit to him for adjustment. If I do this I'll mention the smoke issue to him and take it from there.

+1
You can't blame the tailor outrightly. It was probably the previous owner of the jacket who smoked in it. But I agree, have it steam cleaned.

Yes it is a thrifted stone coloured jacket that definitely didn't smell. It's one of the checks I do when buying. I hate even passive smoking! It was bought some months ago and I have been waiting for the warmer months before wearing it out. IF...it had smelled already it would have made other jackets in my wardrobe smell too, it was that strong. Not the case here.

I would not be happy. Cigarette smoke is partially consists of ash and tar, and I don't want that in my clothes. I make all attempts to stay away from rooms of smokers so I don't smell and my clothes don't smell. The smoke itself damages the clothes, and the necessary cleaning does even more. This is unacceptable.

When I first saw the thread title, I presumed that the tailor destroyed your jacket because of shotty tailoring. I can't imagine a tailor smoking. What happens when a cig falls out of his/her mouth on to an article of clothing?

Or possibly nicely ask him if he can air out any future work, hang your items in a back room, or something of that nature?.... While I do not like the smell of cigs (and most cigars), I would not have a huge problem with a tailor that smoked.... I would just let him know I did not like it and try to minimize the time I let the item sit in his smokey area.... as someone else said, you will smell like crap after a night at a club also.... would that stop you from going to one? of course YMMV.... good luck either way!